The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made their debut public engagement as a
married couple last night as guests of honour at a lavish charity gala
dinner.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive for the charity eventPhoto: GETTY/PA

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Photo: AFP/GETTY

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Photo: REUTERS

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Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Catherine, are escorted by Arpad Busson (R), Founding Chairman of ARK and Ian Wace (L), current Chairman of ARK, as they arrive for a charity gala dinnerPhoto: AFP/GETTY

Rather than a marquee on the lawn, guests were ushered into a giant purpose-built pavilion the size of a football pitch.

After a drinks reception and canapés on the sundeck champagne bar, they were entertained by a team of Mexican divers who caught the Duchess’s eye as they performed an acrobatic display, plunging into a swimming pool from diving boards in the shape of a giant orange “10”.

Guests then sat down to a three-course dinner of yellow fin tuna carpaccio, followed by roast Kobe beef fillet and a trio of desserts including blackcurrant soufflé and apple and sorrel sorbet.

The royal couple attended on behalf of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, which raises money for causes associated with young people around the world.

ARK, which also funds projects for disadvantaged youngsters, was co-founded by the multi-millionaire Swiss-born financier Arpad Busson. Mr Busson has two children with his former partner, Elle Macpherson, the model, and in recent years has dated the actress Uma Thurman.

The event also marked the start of the Duchess's philanthropic work as a member of the Royal family.

In his first public speech as a married man, the Duke announced that his wife had joined him and his brother Prince Harry as a patron of their Foundation for young people.

Addressing the audience, he said: "My brother, Catherine and I hope to use our philanthropy as a long-term catalyst for meaningful change."

He added that the Foundation had embarked on a four-year joint venture with ARK to help "young people who really need it".

"Programmes from this partnership will raise aspirations, broaden horizons and encourage young people to achieve what may have seemed to them unachievable," said the Duke.

"It will generate opportunities in education for young people in the United Kingdom and then later expand beyond our shores, initially to projects in sub-Saharan Africa."

The Duke drew a standing ovation and wolf whistles following his speech.

He quipped that he would have an interesting time explaing the events of the evening to the Queen.

He said: "I would like to share with you the conversation I am going to have with my grandmother tomorrow as I try and describe this; the swimming pool outside and the men wearing the most tight speedos I have ever seen in my life.

"Arki (Mr Busson) did mention to me on the way in that if records are broken tonight he would actually don a pair of those speedos for the rest of this evening."

Had the Duke required any help with his address, Firth, star of The King's Speech, raced into the venue – having missed dinner – moments before he was due to begin speaking at around 10pm.

Firth joined the Duke and Duchess at their table, where celebrities including Laura Bailey, Tom Ford, Elisabeth Murdoch, the Prince and Princess Pavlos of Greece, Mariella Fostrup, Khan, Matthew Freud and Baron and Baroness De Rothschild were also seated.

Despite the wealth of the guests, many behaved like star-struck fans as the royal couple entered the venue, surrounding them and taking photographs.

As guests sipped Barons de Rothschild champagne, one guest was heard to ask the Duchess: "Where is your husband?"

She replied: "We always get split up at these kind of things."

Later in the evening, guests bid in a charity auction at which lots included a trip for 10 people aboard the world's largest sailing yacht – the Maltese Falcon – during the Perini Cup race, and a Kenyan safari in a luxury lodge.

The Duke and Duchess were due to leave at 10.30pm, before US rock band Kings of Leon took to the stage.

Earlier, Mr Busson said he was “very happy” that the Duke and Duchess were attending.